Fatal outcome of congenital aortopulmonary window with patent ductus arteriosus complicating pregnancy

ABSTRACT Aortopulmonary window (APW) is a rare congenital heart defect with abnormal communication between the ascending aorta and the pulmonary trunk with two separate semilunar valves. We present an autopsy case report wherein a young primigravida woman presented with progressive breathlessness and central cyanosis at 21 weeks of gestation. Echocardiography performed in the emergency room revealed elevated right-sided cardiac pressures suggestive of severe pulmonary hypertension; however, no structural cardiac defect was discernible. The patient succumbed to congestive cardiac failure and progressive hypoxia within 5 days of hospitalization. The autopsy revealed a Type I aortopulmonary window (2 cm) with patent ductus arteriosus. The lungs showed changes of severe pulmonary hypertension with superadded bronchopneumonia. This report underscores a rare presentation of APW, undiagnosed until pregnancy, leading to the Eisenmenger syndrome and death.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Thirunavukkarasu,Balamurugan, Kithan,Lijanthung S., Kumar,Nikhil, Jain,Arihant, Bal,Amanjit
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Hospital Universitário da Universidade de São Paulo 2021
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2236-19602021000100203
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